Question reference: S6W-00933
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 21 June 2021
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Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 22 July 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether people in critically (a) vulnerable and (b) extremely vulnerable groups will be called for the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in a shorter timescale than those in other, non-vulnerable, groups.
Answer
The Scottish Government follows the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) Guidance in the planning of vaccine delivery. This evidence-based guidance advises that the single greatest risk of mortality from COVID-19 is increasing age and that COVID-19 risk increases exponentially with age.
JCVI priority group 4 of the vaccines programme incorporates those considered Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) on the GP system and therefore at higher risk of severe illness with COVID-19.
First doses and second doses of vaccine are offered in accordance with the same clinical prioritisation guidelines outlined under the JCVI priority groups.